Wheel construction



April 23, 1940. N 2,198,057

WHEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed May 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V5 3UP GEOeaE zflaserlrom April 23, 1940. LYON 2,198,057

WHEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed May 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 62-0905 .44 85B rZya/u Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,198,057 I WHEEL.CN S'1RU( J 1l0N f I I is George Albert Lyon, Detroit, Mich Application May 18, 1936, Serial No. 80,396

3 Claims. (or. 301-108) This invention relates to improvements in a wheel construction, and more particularly, a

wheel for use in connection with automotive vehicles, although the invention will have other 5 uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the manufactured vehicle wheels, especially automotive vehicle wheels, it is now the practice in most cases to make the wheel entirely of metal,

including a metallic rim part and a metallic body part. These wheels are usually decorated with a hub cap, a wheel disk, or a combination of both, either in a one-piece unit or separate pieces. The

preferred form of hub cap is now a relatively 18 large one in relation to the wheel to which it is attached, and for many reasons, such as the weight and size of the hubcap, the attaching means to hold it upon the wheel, or the nave formation of the wheel, these hub caps are in some instances inclined to shimmy during operation of the vehicle. Such vibration or shimmying is aggravated when a disk structure covering substantially the entire side surface of the wheel inside the rim is utilized. These disk constructions are sometimes'made in a single piece having a central portion in simulation of a hub cap and an outward skirt-like portion for covering that portion of the wheel between the nave and the rim. Certain means, such'as a beaded edge or attaching flange, have been provided on hub caps, but such attaching features are objectionably expensivewhen provided in connection with a wheel disk.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wheel construction equipped with means to firmly hold a hub cap or wheel disk in positionupon the wheel against .vibratory or shimmying action during operation of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vehicle wheel provided with holding means of a type capable of exerting both an axially inward and a radially outward pressure upon a hub cap or wheel disk to hold the same firmly a in position upon the wheel. 7 n

Another object of the invention is to provide I a wheel equipped with hub cap or disk holding means so shaped as to provide a holding contact of relatively large area as distinguished from the usual point to point contact. A further object of the invention is the provision of a wheel equipped with hub cap or disk holding means shaped for positively gripping or embracing a portion of a hub cap or disk of substantial area.

Also a featureof this invention is' the provision of a wheel equipped with hub cap or disk holding means capableof exerting pressure in a plurality of directions, with the resultant'force vector in such' a direction as to urge the cap or disk towardsthat part of the wheel which it contacts.

For the economical manufacture of a wheel disk, it is deemedpreferable to provide a disk with an undercut annular groove to form a shouln) derron the inside of the disk, and thus eliminate an attaching flange as an extra piece. I

With this in mind, it is also an object of the present invention to provide a wheel equipped with disk-retaining means capable of positively 1 engaging such a shoulder and hold the disk in to shift in the event an element becomes slightly loose, and which elements extend from the wheel a;

in an oblique direction.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the disclosures hereinafter, taken in conjunction with. the accompanying drawings,- in which: I go Figure 1 is a side .elevational view of a vehicle wheel embodying improvements of the present invention, showing the same equipped with a hub cap; I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken substantially I as indicated by the line II-II of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlargement of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 2';

Figure 4 is a side 'elevational View of a vehicle wheel embodying principles of the present invention, showing the same equipped with a wheel disk; Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially as indicated by the line V-V of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

a drop center tire rim, generally indicated by I numeral l, comprising a base flange 2, inter-me 'as indicated at [3, tomerge with the'nave'or'attaching'flange'l.

diate flanges 3-3, and side edges 4-4, all integ'rally connected in the usual manner. The wheel also includes a body part, generally indicated by numeral 5, which in this instance is provided with a series of inwardly turned flanges 6 attached to the base flange of the rim in any suitable manner, such as by riveting or welding.

The body part 5 is also provided with a nave or attaching flange 1 defining a central aperture or hubopening 8 andalso provided with a'series of openings to accommodate a plurality of fastening bolts 9 or equivalent means, by which the wheel may be attached to a suitable vehicle part,

such as the brake drum ill or to a spare wheel carrier, as the case may be. Adjacent the rim, the body part is formed with a plurality of openings ll between the flange parts 6, somewhat in simulation of spokes. Inside the openings II, the wheel is provided With an annular .bulge l2, and from this bulge the body part slopes inwardly,

A suitable hub cap, of relatively large'size in this instance, is shown associated With the wheel. This; hub cap'l'd is preferable of dome shape and *is'providedwith an annular underrolled margin fitintimatelyagainst the nave flange, and 'the' "element is held to the flange in. any suitable mannensuch as by a rivet 18 passing through the "shank ll. Adjacent the element, the'wheel is preferably provided with an aperture l9, into which the clip 2!! of the'shank I1 is inserted, as indicated-inFigure 2, thus anchoring the fastening elementfirmly in position and preventing a shiftin'giof the fastening element out of position if-the rivet connection becomes slightly'loosened. Theouteren'd ofthe retaining member I6 is provided with an 'arcuate 'or cradle portion 2|, beyond which the element is turned inwardly towards the axisof the wheel and slightly curved,

as in'dicatedat 22. 1

'It Will be seen that the hub cap M may be positioned upon the Wheel by merely pressing the 'same in an axial "direction until the retaining "elements'have been sprung' sufficiently to snap into position with the cra'dleportions thereof intimately embracing a portion of the rolled margin 15 ofthe'hub cap. The turned outer ends '22 of'tie retaining elements permit the elements to'be'sprung'inwardly by pressure of the rolled margin IS in an" axial direction against the elements.

It will be noted that each-of the elements contacts the "rolled-margin of'the hub cap'over a substantial area, namely; the lengthof the cradle art ZL'rather than a point to'point contact.

This cradle part is preferably shaped to intifmatelyen'gage the 'rolledmargin of the'hub cap sothat'the axially inner portion 'of the area of contact lies at an'angle of at least thirty degrees and preferably forty-five degrees to the spring element *body it and forms a shoulder which prevents inward sliding of'the edge l5 of the hub cap. The :axia'lly outer portion of the :area of contact 'lies at an 'angle' of 'at "least thirty degrees and preferably 'forty five "degrees "to the-axially inner'portion of'the area of contact'fand to theiaxis of the wheel.

hicle is in use.

wheel and, while they are-extremely effective in bodying spring elements carried by the wheel It will be apparent that the shape and angle of each retaining element provides a radially outward pressure on the rolled margin of the hub cap, and also an axially inward pull upon the margin, and the resultant of these forces is preferably in such a direction as to urge the rolled margin of the hub cap tightly against the bulge I2 of the body of the wheel. Preferable four or more resilient retaining elements 16 are used, although any desirable -or .suitable number may be provided. It is therefore apparent that the hub cap is held in tight engagement with the body part of the Wheel against a vibratory or shimmying action while the ve- InFigures 4 to 6, inclusive, I have shown the same wheel, with the same retaining elements, equipped with a wheel disk generally indicated by. numeral 23. This wheel disk is preferably made of metallic sheet material and has a domeshahed centralportion :26 defined by an annular indentation 'or undercut :groove d5, so -'that" the central portion is somewhatin'simulation of a The disk 23 1s also'provided with anintegral skirt outside the groove, as indicated at 26,

which'skirt intimatelyoverlies the bulged 'por- 'tion l2 of the-bodypart .oi' the'wheel'. the outer edgetherecffthe skirt 2'5 iszshaped; as indicated at 21, in conformity with the flanges '8 of the body partb and the'apertures l I between the flangesso thatth'e outer skirt portion overlies the simulated spokes of the wheel.

- The'formation of the undercutgroove :25 provides'aninner shoulder'or beadon the disk which is E-engaged intimately by the retaining elements 15, :the annular: rounded shoulder seating firmly :Within the cradle portions of the fretaining elements.

As in the previous instance the resultant of P40 elements It are'preferably-given a curvature-or contour consistent with; the curvature or contour of the part of thehubcapor-disk they are-to embrace. I j

Frornthe foregoing, it is apparent that'I have provideda wheel structure including disk. or hub cap retaining means of simple construction,

which project from-thewheel at such an angle asto apply pressure against the diskor hub cap in a plurality of directions, with the resultant of the respectiveforces preferably ina direction tohold the disk or hub cap in tight engagement with the wheel. It will alsobenotedthatthe retaining elementsare firmly anchored .uponthe action and operation, nevertheless they aresimple and economical in construction and. installation.

While 1 have illustrated my. invention as emand cooperating withthedisk or wheel cover,

the disk instead of by the wheel, and in that event embrace'a portionior shoulder of the'wheel.

'Of course, my inventionis also applicable to such a construction, since the spring elements can be formedfin accordance with-the "present invention, irrespective of whether they are car- ,75

ried by the disk or wheel. The preferred embodiment of my invention, however, is illustrated and disclosed herein.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a vehicle wheel, a member for overlying the outer side of the wheel, and a plurality of spring retaining elements each having a portion anchored to said wheel and a free portion extending obliquely from the wheel for snap-on engagement with said member, said elements each having a cradle-like part for engagement with said member, the engaging surfaces on said cradle-like part and said member having substantially equal curvatures to provide a gripping area as distinguished from a point to point contact, and the inner portion of said cradlelike part being at an angle to said obliquely extending portion and forming a shoulder to prevent slipping of said member along said obliquely extending portion.

2. In combination, a vehicle wheel, a cover member designed to overlie the outer side surface of said wheel and having a radially inwardly projecting portion, and retaining means carried by the wheel to hold said member firmly in position on the wheel, said means including spring clips fastened to the wheel and having main portions which extend out at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees with the plane of the wheel, each clip having outer portions formed to lie. partly against the radially inwardly projecting portion of the cover member in a plane substantially parallel to the main portion of the clip and also formed to provide a shoulder at a substantial angle to the main portion of the clip to prevent slippage along the clip, thus causing it to act as a column in resisting radial forces.

3. In combination with a wheel having a central portion surrounded by an annular bulge against the top of which the inwardly beaded edge of a cover member is adapted to fit, a plurality of spring clips each of which has one end fixed to the central portion of the wheel and has its main part'extending towards the axially outermost portion of the bulge at a substantial angle to the axis. of the wheel, the end of each clip being bent axially outward to provide a shoulder at a substantial angle to both the surface of the axially outermost portion of the bulge and the main part of the clip to prevent the head on the cover member from slipping along the clip, thus causing the clip to actfas a column in preventing slippage of the cover member with respect to said bulge, and the end of each clip, being curved radially outward beyond said shoulder to provide a part facing the bulge to hold the beaded edge of the cover member against the bulge.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

